Cheap treatment for oral cholera is on the way

Shanchol, a vaccine for oral cholera will benefit countries such as Bangladesh where the disease is endemic, and is deemed to protect children and adults affected from severe cholera

Bangladesh and other developing countries like India can now heave a sigh of relief, as an affordable treatment for oral cholera is under way. The disease is endemic in Bangladesh, and affects the large population in the other developing countries which suffer from water contamination, and other sanitation and hygiene issues.

Shanchol is a part of the mass vaccination programme, and has been declared safe for children and adults alike. It (Shanchol) is cheap; two doses cost 3.7 US dollars, around a third of the price of the other licensed vaccine Dukoral. The findings of a study in the Lancet Journal further implied that use of such a vaccine is easily accessible, and can reduce cholera by a significant figure of 40%.

As reported by ANI,

Over one billion people are estimated to be at risk of cholera in more than 50 countries where it is endemic and around 2.8 million cases and 91,000 deaths occur every year in endemic regions.

According to World Health Organisation, in India 676 651 cases were reported from 2000 to 2004 and there was a 24 per cent increase in the number of cases during these years.